Amusement device



O. JOHNSON. AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION man APR. 10. I920.

1,359,508, Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

UNITED STATES OWEN JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y,

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23,1920.

Application filed April 10, 1920. Serial No. 372,909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GWEN JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State. of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to amusement devices, and more particularly to amusement devices embodying some of the features of a r0ller-coaster.

It is an object of the invention to provide an unusual and entertaining form of amusement device, which will excite interest in both spectators and participants.

It is a further object to provide an im proved amusement device comprising fea tures of structural superiority and functional advantage. j

Other objects will be in part noted hereinafter in connection with the following de scription of the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a typical embodiment of the invention, and wherein-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device; and l Fig. 2 is aside view of a car and a deflecting post.

In general, the device consists of an inclined plane upon which cars are projected,

as by an elevated runway, having disposed at intervals on its surface holes or pockets through which the cars may drop in their courses, and having beneath its surface passageways leading from such pockets, communicating with exit gates atthe lower edge of the surface.

Referring now more part1cularly to the drawing, there 1s shown a tower 1 containing an elevatorfor raising the cars to the starting point 2. An inclined runway 3 may be employed to convey the cars from the starting point 2 toward and upon the surface l of theinclined plane, and to afford initial impulse tothe cars as they are projected upon the inclined plane adjacent its upper edge. The inclined planemay be divided into squares or rectangles, a plurality of which form pocketsfi leading'to passageways beneath the surface. These passageways fi, as indicated by dotted lines in the drawin i; Inav be vii-c and intercoim n and ..d heuez.

" tainty surface to exit gates 7 adjacent the lower edge of the inclined plane. If desired, each passageway may be so constructed as to constitute a separate unit, so that the entrance of a car through a particular pocket will insure emergence from a corresponding exit gate below;

'A guard rail or fence '8 is disposed along the edges of the running surface, and in the present instance, this guard rail curves inwardly toward the lower end of the apparatus to guide any cars whichmay have failed to leave the surface through the pockets 5 out through a central eXitS) leading directly from the surface at its lower end. A further curvedguide rail or fence 10 may be employed beyond the exists to guide the cars after their discharge toward the foot of the tower l and thus facilitate a second start. Posts or pins 11 are preferably disposed at intervals u on the surface to deflect the cars in case it is discovered that sufficient element ofchance does not i enter into the course of the car upon the running surface. These posts 11 may be removable and suflicient holes for receiving them, as for example, one at each corner of the squares, may be disposed on the surface so that the positions of the postsinay beailtered at will to prevent continuing definite courses being worn by the cars. The cars may takeany shape or form desired, but are preferablyj so constructed as to be able to ride in any direction in relation to their horizontal axes. For this purpose the wheels 13 of the car are preferably of caster construction to allow rotation of their attaching means.

A supplementary starting tower might be added adjacent the other lower corner ofthe plane, and the elevators are preferably of a size to accommodate more than one car, so that a plurality of care may be runningon the surface at onetime. Further elements of chance maybe gained by the employment of additi onal variously positioned starting points.

The device is designed particularly for use in amusement parks, etc, where crowds may be attracted and substantial revenue rei d b its operation.

enjoy the double suspense afforded by a fast and QXCl'tlDg descent and by the uncerof the curse which a given. car may surface at the in clined plane is visible to spectators standing beyond the lower edge of the plane, and thls surface may be divided into differently colored squares in the form of a checker-board,- thus adding to the attractiveness of the de;

vice and affording additional interest to those attempting to prophesy the course of a given car. In operation, the spectators or participants are invited to predict the course of the car, and suitable prizes may be given to those who succeed. It will be evident that many varied opportunities are provided for such preselection. For example, itrmay be predicted that a certain car will leave the surface through one of the pockets having a certain color, or the said pocket may be numbered and the number of the exit pocket predicted. Further, the point of final exit may constitute one of the chances. For the latter purpose, the exit gates 7 may be numbered, as illustrated, and the numbers preselected or predicted in distinction froma discharge through the central opening 9. V i

As manychanges might be made in the construction as shown and many widely different embodiments of the invention might be made without departing from the scope thereof or sacrificing its advantages, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and notin alimiting sense. ,It is also to be-understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an amusement device, in combination, a plurality of gravity-propelled cars,

a surfacefor said cars comprising an inclined plane, a plurality of exit openings for said cars spaced at intervals over said surface, a supplementary discharge opening leading from the surface adjacent the lower edge thereofimeans for elevating said cars ,7 cars upon the surface of said plane, comprising an inclined runway having its lower end a diacent the higher end of the inclined plane, means to elevate cars for starting, exit openings at spaced points through said plane, discharge openings ad acent the lower edge of said plane. and communicating passages from said exit openings to sald discharge opemngs.

3. In an amusement device, in combi-,

nation. an inclined plane, a runway having an elevated startmg end. a vertical tower adjacent the starting end of the runway and the lower edge of the plane, exit openings on the surface of said plane, discharge openings adjacent the lower edge of said plane, means to guide the cars from said discharge open- Hinge toward the base of the tower and an eleof said surface, passage-ways leading.therefrom beneath the surface of said plane, said passage-ways having discharge openings adjacent the lower edge of said plane.

5. In an amusement device, in combination, an inclined plane, means to project cars upon the surface of said plane comprising an inclined runway having its lower end adjacent the higher portion of said plane, means to elevate cars to the starting point,

receiving openings for the cars spaced at intervals overthe surface of said plane, passageways beneath said surface, said passage-ways having discharge openings adjacent the lower edge of said plane 6. In an amusement device, in combination, an inclined plane, means to project cars on the surface of. said plane adjacent .its higher edge, receiving pockets for said cars spaced at intervals over the surface of said plane, circuitous intercommunicating passage-ways leading from said pockets beneath the surface of said plane, said passage-ways having discharge openings adjacei' t the lower edge of said plane.

7. In an amusement device, in combination, an inclined plane, means to project cars on the surface of said plane adjacent its upper edge, receiving pockets for'said cars so spacedat intervals over the surface of said plane as to receive said cars under normal conditions before said cars reach the lower part of said surface, bumper posts adjustably disposed over the surface of said plane, passage-ways beneath the surface leading from said receiving pockets, said passage-ways having discharge openings adj acent the lower edge of said plane.

8, In an amusement device, in combination, an inclined plane, means to project cars on the surface of said plane adjacent its upper edge,-receiving'pockets for said cars spaced at intervals over said surface, passage-ways beneath said surface leading therefrom, discharge openings from said passage-ways adjacent the lower edge of said plane, a supplementary central dis charge opening leading from the surface of said plane adjacent its lower edge, and means to guide cars approaching said lower edge through said centralopenin 9. In an amusement dev1ce,.in combinw tion, an inclined plane having a checkerboard surface, means to project cars upon said surface adjacent its upper edge, a plurality of divisions of the checker-board forming receiving pockets for cars, passageways leading from said receiving pockets beneath the surface of said plane, said passage-ways having discharge openings ad jacent the lower edge of said plane.

10. In an amusement device,'in combina tion, an inclined plane, means to project cars on the surface of said plane adjacent its upper edge, passage-ways beneath the surface of said plane, pockets in said inclined plane to allow egress for cars through said passage-ways, said pockets having distinguishing markings, exit openings for said passage-ways adjacent the lower edge of the plane, said exit openings having distinguishing markings, and one or more discharge openings for cars approaching the lower edge of said plane upon the surface thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

OWEN JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

M. A. CAsHIN, J. THoMsoN. 

